TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19
Poster Session: Community and Population Health
The Impact of Breastfeeding Education on Barriers and Misconceptions Among
University Community Members
Author(s): O. Marshall1, A. Rainville2, O. Ford2; 1Marywood Nursing Care
Center, 2Eastern Michigan University
Learning Outcome: Identify breastfeeding barriers and misconceptions found
among a university’s community members.
Addressing barriers and misconceptions to breastfeeding can help increase
initiation and duration rates. Currently, breastfeeding education is not part of
general education, and is available to primarily pregnant or postpartum in-
dividuals. This study identified barriers and misconceptions to breastfeeding
among university students and employees (Step 1) and evaluated the impact
of breastfeeding education on these barriers and misconceptions (Step 2). A
20 question electronic survey was distributed in Step 1. In Step 2, a virtual
education class, developed based on Step 1 findings, was delivered and
evaluated via post-test. Survey respondents (n¼174) were mainly 18 - 26
years old (n¼84, 49.4%), Caucasian (n¼140), female (n¼151), and students
pursuing a bachelor’s degree (n¼159). The majority (87.4%) identified
breastmilk as being the best food for infants with 10.3% indicating both for-
mula and breastmilk; 16% indicated that breastfeeding causes pain; 52%
agreed that diet impacts breastfeeding, and 45% were not aware that
breastfeeding when ill is possible. Bonding and infant immunity were iden-
tified as motivations to breastfeed, but respondents were not able to provide
details on the benefits. Over 28% identified the need for family/friends’
approval in order to succeed at breastfeeding, the majority were not able to
identify reliable sources of information and showed confusion about the
breastfeeding basics. The Step 2 post-test demonstrated the effectiveness of a
breastfeeding class with 100% of participants indicating that their knowledge
and understanding of the topic increased. Further research is needed to
evaluate the impact of the breastfeeding education in a variety of settings.
Funding source: None
The Impact of Online Nutrition Education on WIC Client Retention and
Redemption of the Cash Value Benefit of Fruit/Vegetables
Author: S. Gray; Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Learning Outcome: Describe the effectiveness that online nutrition education
has on WIC participants in maintaining program participation.
All participants of the Indiana Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women Infant and Children (WIC) receive supplemental foods, nutrition
education, and health care referrals. The Indiana WIC program established an
online nutrition education program to help eliminate barriers to participants
who are unable to be physically present for their second nutrition education
appointments. The aim of this study was to compare the participation of WIC
participants enrolled in standard in-person appointments with WIC partici-
pants enrolled in the Online Nutrition Education (ONE) pilot program by
assessing the completion of the ONE lessons and the cash value benefit usage
at 3 months after participants’ acceptance into the WIC program. A quasi-
experiment was performed using a time series comparison of WIC participant
attendance at their in-person nutrition education appointment to partici-
pants completion of an online nutrition education lesson. A second com-
parison of the two groups observed the participants redemption of their cash
value benefit on fruits and vegetables (CVB). A total of 68,748 participants
attended the traditional second nutrition education contact appointment
during February 1 e September 7, 2019 and with the addition of the ONE pilot
a total of 78,857 participants attended in 2020. The increase in participation
from 2019 to 2020 was statistically significant (P¼0.035). Analysis showed
that there was a significant difference (P  0.001) between the 2019 and 2020
CVB mean redemption rates. This study provides evidence that WIC partici-
pants are more likely to maintain their participation when offered the
addition of an online nutrition education appointment type.
Funding source: None
A-98 JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
The Relationship Between Calcium Consumption from Dairy and Non-Dairy
Sources on Calcium Consumption and Bone Mineral Density of College Students
Author(s): M. Fontenot1, A. Pescovitz2, S. Camel1, V. Green1; 1Louisiana Tech
University, 2Unidine
Learning Outcome: To highlight the importance of calcium consumption
among young adults and the impact inadequate calcium intake can have on
bone health during the critical years of developing peak bone mass.
Research Question: Dairy product consumption has declined with increasing
intake of plant-based substitutes. Osteoporosis and bone fracture risk are
prominent public health concerns, yet few studies have studied the rela-
tionship. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among
total calcium, dairy and non-dairy calcium consumption, and bone mineral
density in college students.
Methods: A convenience sample of undergraduate nutrition students at
Louisiana Tech University were recruited. Data collection included de-
mographics, a 24-hour recall, a modified food frequency calcium score, and
an ultrasound bone mineral density test.
Results: Participants’ age ranged from 17 to 48 years (N¼66), were mostly
female (77%), and white (74%). Non-dairy calcium intake of whites
(M¼349.25, SD¼274.32) was higher than non-whites (M¼208.99,
SD¼168.60), t(40.05)¼ 2.33, p <.05. There was a difference in dairy calcium
intake between those who did not meet the RDA (M¼293.43, S¼249.36) and
those who did (M¼940.98, SD¼618.89) t(15.54)¼-3.95, p <.01, and a differ-
ence between males (M¼.00, SD¼.00) and females (M¼.62, SD¼1.21) for
bone density z-scores, t(37)¼ -3.17, p<.01. There was a difference between
males (M¼126.27, SD¼22.44) and females (M¼110.21, SD¼21.55), t(60)¼2.49,
p <02 and between whites (M¼109.60, SD¼20.67) and non-whites
(M¼129.27, SD ¼22.86) in stiffness index scores t(58) -3.11¼, p <.01.
Conclusion: This study indicates that college students who did not consume
dairy calcium, did not meet the RDA for calcium as the deficit was not met by
non-dairy sources. It remains important to advocate for dairy sources of
calcium and to address inadequate intake of plant-based sources of calcium.
Funding source: None
Variations in Maternal Eating Behaviors, Child Feeding Behaviors, and Home Food
Environments by Family Size
Author(s): C. Delaney1, C. Byrd-Bredbenner2; 1Rutgers University, 2
Rutgers University,
School of Environmental & Biological Sciences
Learning Outcome: Describe relationships of family size to eating behaviors, child
feeding behaviors, and home food environments of mothers of young children (ages 2-9).
Limited research has examined relationships between family size and maternal eating and
child feeding behaviors and home food environments. Thus, mothers [N¼584] of young
children were categorized by family size (i.e.,1 child [n¼150], 2 children [n¼241], >3
children [n¼193]) and compared using ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests. Results from 4-
point scales revealed similar maternal eating behaviors (i.e.,moderate disinhibited eating,
moderate dietary restraint, moderate/high food adventurousness); however, mothers with
1 child were less likely to engage in emotional eating than those with 2 and >3 children
(1.990.91SD, 2.280.91SD, 2.260.92, respectively). Mothers used similar child feeding
practices (e.g.,low use of food rewards, moderate control over children’s food choices, low
pressuring children to eat). Mothers with >3 children modeled healthy eating behaviors
significantly (p<.05) less often than those with 2 children or 1 child (3.490.79SD,
3.680.79SD, 3.700.80SD, respectively). Home food environments of all mothers had
similarly adequate fruit/vegetable servings and few servings of sugar-sweetened beverages
and fatty/sugary snacks. Mothers restricted children’s independent access to nutrient-poor
foods; however, mothers with >3 children allowed children significantly greater access to
nutrient-dense foods than those with 2 children or 1 child (2.891.73SD, 2.231.67SD,
2.121.79SD, respectively). Maternal eating, child feeding, and home food environments
varied little by household size. Notably, mothers with more children engaged in more
emotional eating, modeled healthy eating less, and allowed children greater independent
access to nutrient-dense foods. Future interventions should examine underlying causes for
these differences, such as increased maternal stress and time constraints in larger families
and offer positive coping strategies.
Funding source: United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, Grant Numbers 2011-68001-30170 and 2017-680001-26351
September 2021 Suppl 1—Abstracts Volume 121 Number 9